There Is No 5G Without Fiber

Since Ajit Pai became chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, he has pressed for the United States to lead in fifth-generation wireless deployment. Just last month, he joined with others in the Trump administration tohold a 5G summitwhere they touted the importance of the United States paving the way for 5G. While a key aspect of the chairman’s agenda is getting additional spectrum in the hands of mobile wireless providers, it is important we don’t lose sight of the fact that he also is trying to solve the other piece of the 5G puzzle – facilitating fiber builds to all the new small-cell sites.

5G networks will offer consumers gigabit speeds with more reliable, stronger connections. But to make this happen, 5G requires not only access to spectrum that enables high throughput service, but also connections to dense, high capacity fiber networks. The aim of all 5G providers will be to ensure that once transmissions are “out of the air” they are “into the ground” quickly to their destination using critical and reliable fiber networks.

And, of course, as macro-cell sites turn into small-cell sites for 5G, the need to facilitate the deployment of fiber becomes even more important. Instead of connecting to a single cell tower, which can potentially serve a 10 square mile area, fiber will now need to go to approximately 10, 20, or even 100 times that number of small cell sites, each serving a limited area.The Fiber Broadband Association estimatesthat 5G will require the deployment of about 1.4 million miles of fiber in just the top 25 urban areas in the United States All of which means, we have entered into an era where we need to enable all sorts of fiber providers to deploy as expeditiously as possible and at reasonable cost.

Building 5G networks will be a monumental infrastructure project, but the benefits are vast. 5G is expected to have a tremendous impact on the economy. According to a recentAccenture report, 5G is projected to create 2.2 million jobs, and approximately $420 billion in annual gross domestic product, across communities throughout the United States

Our 5G future also will include more connected cities and technologies like autonomous vehicles, augmented/virtual reality devices, infrastructure sensors for smart transportation and public safety applications, and airborne drones.

But 5G and smart cities can only become a reality for all Americans if there is enough fiber infrastructure to support them.Deloitte Consulting recently reportedthat the United States will require an estimated $130 billion to $150 billion in fiber investment over the next five to seven years to adequately support broadband competition, rural coverage and wireless deployments for future network technologies such as 5G.

Along with new fiber investments, policymakers need to remove regulatory hurdles so it is easier to deploy fiber. Thankfully the FCC has already taken steps to remove unnecessary barriers to innovation. Just this summer, FCC Chairman Pai paved the way for theadoption of the One-Touch-Make-Ready rule, which will make it easier to attach equipment to telephone poles and help propel fiber broadband deployment throughout the country.

But there is still work to do to make the United States the global leader in 5G. So as we look ahead to the next generation of wireless network technologies and smart cities, policymakers at all levels of government and industry need to work together to ensure that there is plenty of fiber broadband infrastructure available for the United States to lead on 5G.

Lisa R. Youngers is the president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association.

Morning Consult welcomes op-ed submissions on policy, politics and business strategy in our coverage areas. Updated submission guidelines can be found here.

]]>https://www.fiberbroadband.org/blog/fiber-broadband-association-welcomes-new-premier-member-automation-exchange?source=12018-10-22T13:09:47-07:00Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2018) — The Fiber Broadband Association is thrilled to welcome Automation Exchange as its newest premier member. Automation Exchange provides its clients with complete solutions to take a fiber network from inception, through installation, and into network monitoring and billing.

“I’m excited to bring Automation Exchange into our growing organization” said Lisa R. Youngers, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. “Automation Exchange offers full-service assistance in operating a fiber business and will bring a new perspective to our membership. We’re honored to have them as a premier member.”

“Automation Exchange is thrilled to join the Fiber Broadband Association to show our commitment to bringing world-class solutions to fiber owners and operators internationally” said Hanel Kumm, Managing Director at Automation Exchange. “I look forward to working with the Fiber Broadband Association and our industry allies on our fiber future.”

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association in the Americas dedicated to the pursuit of all fiber optic network infrastructure to the home, to the business and to everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better broadband networks with fiber optics while working with its members to lead the organization, collaborate with industry allies and propel fiber optic deployment forward. Since 2001, these companies, organizations and people have worked with our communities and consumers in mind to build a better broadband future here and around the world. Learn more atfiberbroadband.org.

About Automation Exchange

The Automation Exchange Fiber Network Management System (FNMS) provides our clients with a complete solution to take a fiber network from inception, through installation, and into network monitoring and billing. With years of experience in the fiber industry, we provide software and consulting services that assist Fiber Owners, Operators and ISP’s to focus on rolling out fiber, while we ensure the network is running smoothly, and processes are automated to ensure “no touch” active services, with significant experience in open access roll out and networks. We support your business with a very quick and easy entry into the market, we can have your business systems operating within weeks. If you are looking at Open Access we have an extensive amount of experience in this space.

]]>https://www.fiberbroadband.org/blog/fiber-broadband-association-welcomes-routethis-to-its-growing-membership?source=12018-10-17T07:14:20-07:00Washington, D.C. (October 17, 2018) — The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is pleased to welcome RouteThis as its newest member. Based in Kitchener, Ontario, RouteThis is a mobile-based network diagnostics solution for Smart Home and ISP support teams. Since 2013, their platform has been used to analyze over one million home networks and solve countless connectivity-related support issues, both in the United States and around the world.

“Fiber networks provide customers with the most reliable high-speed connectivity, but sometimes customers need technical assistance from experts that support agents don’t typically have the tools to provide” said Lisa R. Youngers, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. “The RouteThis platform offers this important service to network operators and I am excited to welcome them into the Fiber Broadband Association.”

"Traditional support consists of a lot of technical back and forth that's not only time consuming but annoying and frustrating for customers." said Matt Gardner, COO of RouteThis. "We designed the RouteThis platform to eliminate the need for these questions so agents can solve more WiFi connectivity tickets in less time and companies can see reduced support costs, increased customer satisfaction, less churn and more. We're excited to partner with the Fiber Broadband Association and bring these benefits to even more carriers."

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association in the Americas dedicated to the pursuit of all fiber optic network infrastructure to the home, to the business and to everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better broadband networks with fiber optics while working with its members to lead the organization, collaborate with industry allies and propel fiber optic deployment forward. Since 2001, these companies, organizations and people have worked with our communities and consumers in mind to build a better broadband future here and around the world. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

About RouteThis

RouteThis is a mobile-based network diagnostics solution for Smart Home and ISP support teams. The platform provides a tremendously detailed picture of customers’ home networks, allowing support agents to quickly and easily resolve connectivity issues, without asking customers for tons of technical information, deploying specific hardware, pushing firmware updates or doing remote desktop sessions.

]]>https://www.fiberbroadband.org/blog/fiber-broadband-association-announces-the-name-of-the?source=12018-09-26T16:53:23-07:00Washington, DC — September 26, 2018 — The Fiber Broadband Association LATAM Chapter is pleased to announce Nicanor Ruiz, from our Premier member company Senko, to serve as the new Regulatory Director on the Board of Directors. Nicanor Ruiz will lead the committee until March 2019. His name was chosen after a diligent process following the call for nomination published last July.

The primary responsibility of the Regulatory Committee Director is to advocate towards regional activities and establishing government relations with the Latin American governments, in accordance with the organization’s mission. “The Fiber Broadband Association LATAM Chapter is committed to represent its members and fulfil its mission to advocate for actions that highly impact the deployment of fiber technology in the region, and we are happy to welcome Nicanor and his experience to support our work”, said Eduardo Jedruch, president of the LATAM Chapter.

The Regulatory Director will actively engage and cooperate with the Fiber Broadband Association LATAM Chapter Board to promote throughout Latin America the adoption of high-quality fiber optic access networks as a universal broadband-bidirectional platform, to promote economic development and improve the quality of life resulting from such adoption in the fields of Education, Health, Defense and Security of the population.

“Firstly, it’s an honor to be part of the Fiber Broadband Association LATAM Chapter, especially in my role as Regulatory Director. My commitment is to support fully the initiatives and objectives for the promotion of solutions for the adoption of connectivity of optical fiber for high-speed applications that supportthe economic growth of the region in the main towns such as in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico. I will work in coordination with major telecommunications ministers and responsible for the regulation to create forums and discussion boards that allow the exchange of ideas to support the regulatory framework and support economic growth”, said Nicanor Ruiz.

About the Fiber Broadband Association LATAM Chapter

The LATAM Chapter is the representation of the Fiber Broadband Association in the Latin America region. The LATAM Chapter is comprised of a diverse group of telecom service providers, high-tech manufacturers and other enterprises from across Latin America. The aim is to promote the development of next-generation, high-bandwidth internet, voice and video services to residences throughout the region. The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association in the Americas dedicated to the pursuit of all fiber-optic network infrastructure to the home, to the business and to everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better broadband networks with fiber optics while counting on its members to lead the organization forward, collaborate with industry allies and propel fiber optic deployment forward. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org/latamchapter Meet the LATAM Board: fiberbroadband.org/leadership-and-committees

]]>https://www.fiberbroadband.org/blog/fiber-broadband-association-certifies-nine-members-as-all-fiber?source=12018-09-18T08:20:00-07:00Washington, D.C. (September 18, 2018) — The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced that it has certified nine of its members as “All-Fiber.” These nine network operators have deployed fiber in more than 90% of their residential networks.

The following FBA members received the certification:

Alpine Communications

Burlington Telecom

CDE Lightband

Certto Telecom

Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC)

LUS Fiber

New Hope Telephone Cooperative

Ohio Telecom

Wilkes Communications | RiverStreet Networks

“Consumers increasingly understand the importance of all-fiber networks for high-speed connectivity,” said Lisa R. Youngers, Executive Director of the Fiber Broadband Association. “Congratulations to our members for their commitment to fiber deployment. They are doing critical work by bringing the best possible broadband to their communities.”

With this one-of-its-kind certification, qualifying providers demonstrate to their communities and customers that they are deploying fiber to deliver the best Internet and digital services. With the rise of the Internet of Things, modern homes require more bandwidth than ever before. Around the United States, broadband providers are transforming their networks to all ﬁber-optic technology to deliver the speed and reliability needed.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association in the Americas dedicated to the pursuit of all fiber optic network infrastructure to the home, to the business and to everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better broadband networks with fiber optics while counting on its members to lead the organization, collaborate with industry allies and propel fiber optic deployment forward. Since 2001, these companies, organizations and people have worked with our communities and consumers in mind to build a better broadband future here and around the world. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

]]>https://www.fiberbroadband.org/blog/2019-fiber-connect-call-for-presentations?source=12018-09-18T08:00:00-07:00The Fiber Broadband Association invites you to submit your proposal to present at the 2019 Fiber Connect, Sunday, June 2 to Wednesday, June 5, 2019 in Orlando, Gaylord Palms Resort.

This year, we are accepting sessions on the following topics:

Business

Funding

Marketing

Growing service take rate

Knowing your customer

Monetizing Networks

Adjacent Applications

New fiber-enabled Applications

Service Delivery

User Impact

Value of Fiber

Video Service Options

Operations

Disaster Response Strategies

Efficient Fiber Construction Practices

Fiber Testing and Certification

Managing Mature Fiber Plant

Make Ready

Pole Attachment

Network Analytics/Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Recruiting, Training, Managing, and Retaining Personnel

Service Installation and OSP Maintenance

Upgrading Technology (ie: App TV, Smart Home)

Video Service Options

Engineering

Emerging Technologies and Architecture

Evolution of the Central Office and Data Center

Fiber-Enabled 5G Wireless

Network Design

Network Security

Managing Mature Fiber Plant

Migrating from Copper to Fiber

Plant Management

Upgrading Technology

Synchronization

Virtualization

Fiber Broadband Starter Kit

Establishing Partnerships

Fiber Basic and Network Design (Fiber 101)

Funding Network

Installation Best Practices

Make Ready and Right of Way/Permitting

Personnel

Service provider case studies and advanced sessions are highly encouraged.

Choose the Session Format to Fit Your Content

Fiber Connect education sessions are presented in a variety of formats to provide an interesting and engaging experience for all attendees. Choose your preferred session format from the options below when submitting your proposal:

Breakout Session(45 minutes): Focused presentation with a maximum of one or two presenters.